Inclusion at Work: Driving Change and Shifting Perceptions. AFB Leadership Conference, May 2-3, 2022.

Pre-Conference (Sunday, May 1)

3:30-4:00 p.m.: Orientation in the Hotel Lobby

Day One (Monday, May 2)

8:15-8:45 a.m.: Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00 a.m.: Joint Welcome from Kirk Adams and Sylvia Stinson-Perez

9:00-9:30 a.m.: "There Is No DEI Without Disability: The Future of Work Must Prioritize Disability Inclusion," keynote from Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC, public speaker and DEI consultant

9:30-10:00 a.m.: General Session: Migel Medal Ceremony

10:00-10:10: Accessibility, Inclusion, and Representation
Stephanae McCoy (Bold Blind Beauty)

10:10–10:20 a.m.: Break

10:20–12:20 p.m.: Ideathon Facilitated by JPMorgan Chase Tech for Social Good Team
Jake Wilkerson, Morgan Chumacas, Scott A. Malinowski

12:30–1:30 p.m.: Boxed Lunch, Networking, and Chance to Visit Exhibit Hall

1:45-2:30 p.m.: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Diversity Breakout: Career Exploration Through Storytelling: Pursuing your Passion and Upward Mobility
    Joshua Pearson (Polus Center For Social and Economic Development), Katie Crocker (Talking Information Center), Gabriella Mendonca, Raymond Hepper (Perkins School for the Blind)

  • Inclusion Breakout: The Power of Apprenticeships
    Michael Hess (The Blind Institute of Technology), Matías Averbuj, Alan Reuss and Sarah Mark (Salesforce)

  • Accessibility Breakout: AFB’s Workplace Technology Study: Strategies for Welcoming Employees into an Accessible Workplace
    Arielle Silverman and Kelly Bleach (AFB)

2:30-2:45 p.m.: Break

2:45-3:30 p.m.: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Diversity Breakout: Intersectionality, Disability Pride, and Becoming a Content Creator
    Catarina Rivera

  • Inclusion Breakout: Digital Inclusion: Public Policy Approaches to Website and App Accessibility
    Sarah Malaier (AFB), Clark Rachfal (American Council of the Blind), John Pare (National Federation of the Blind), Claire Stanley (National Disability Rights Network)

  • Accessibility Breakout: Using Technology to Enhance the Pre-Employment Experience: Smoothing Gen Z's Transition Into the Workforce
    Cindy Camp (Described and Captioned Media Program), Bill Adams and Jason Martin (Center for Assistive Technology and Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services), Marty Shultz (ObjectiveEd)

3:30-3:45 p.m.: Afternoon Snack and Visit Exhibitors

3:45-4:30 p.m.: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Diversity Breakout: Creating High-Performance Inclusive Teams
    Joyelle Harris (Council of Schools and Services for the Blind), Susan Thompson (Hadley), Eric Fredrickson (Fredrickson Consulting)

  • Inclusion Breakout: Leveraging the Disability Equality Index to Become Authentically Disability Inclusive
    Dorothy Garcia (Disability:IN)

  • Accessibility Breakout: Digital Inclusion: Is Policy Keeping Pace with Changes in Telecommunications and Video Accessibility?
    Panelists: Karen Strauss (Disability Access Consultant), Clark Rachfal (ACB), Howard Rosenblum (National Association of the Deaf)
    Moderator: Sarah Malaier (AFB)

4:30-4:40 p.m.: Break

4:40-5:30 p.m.: "Advocacy and Inroads to Digital Inclusion" keynote by Tony Coelho, Public Policy Champion

5:30-6:30 p.m.: Reception

6:30 p.m.: Dine-around: Sign up at the registration booth

Day Two (Tuesday, May 3)

8:15–8:45 a.m.: Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00 a.m.: Welcome and Presentation of the Llura Gund Award

9:00-9:30 a.m.: "Let’s Talk about Vision: Seeing Disability Rights In and Out of the Workplace" keynote by Dr. Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director at United States Access Board

9:30-10:30 a.m.: General Session: Creating Inclusive Customer Service Experiences
Monica Desai (Meta/Instagram), Robert Lichtenfels (PNC Bank), Thomas Wlodkowski (Comcast), and Stacey Romero (Charter Communications)

10:30-10:45 a.m.: Break

10:45-11:30 a.m.: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Diversity Breakout: Including the Voices of Non-English-Speaking Study Participants: AFB’s Access & Engagement III study on the education of visually impaired children during the COVID pandemic
    Conchita Hernandez (Maryland School for the Blind), Michelle Hicks, Arielle Silverman (AFB)

  • Inclusion Breakout: Championing Access and Inclusion Within Hollywood: Innovations in Audio Description
    Roy Samuelson (The Audio Description Network Alliance), Melody Goodspeed (AFB), Satauna Howery (Voice Talent)

  • Accessibility Breakout: Wayfinding Technology at Work: Tackling Indoor Navigation Challenges
    Michael May and Evelyn Tichenor (GoodMaps), Darryl Adams (Intel)

11:30-1:00 p.m.: Boxed Lunch, Networking, and Chance to Visit Exhibit Hall

1:15-2:00 p.m.: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Diversity Breakout: Mentoring Matters: Utilizing Leadership, Mentoring, and Employee Resource Groups to Increase Inclusion
    Richard Rueda (American Printing House for the Blind), Jeff Wissel (Disability:IN), Ray Hepper (AFB Blind Leaders Development Program), Kiran Kaja (Meta/Instagram), Jessica Loomer (Spectrum)

  • Inclusion Breakout: Big Data Shines a Light on the Need for Quality Services
    Neva Fairchild (AFB), Lee Nahesi and Anisio Correia (VisionServe Alliance)

  • Accessibility Breakout: Access Technology Use in the Workplace: Initial Findings from a Longitudinal Study
    Michele McDonnall (Mississippi State University), Arielle Silverman (AFB)

2:00-2:15 p.m.: Break

2:15-3:15: General Session: DEI: Creating Belonging and Inclusion in the Workplace
Christopher Patnoe (Google), Ken Meeker (AFB Blind Leaders Development Program), Ryan Jones (Vispero), Mary Fernandez (Cisco), Dina Grilo (JPMorgan Chase), Grant Doster (DEI Consultant)

3:15-3:30 p.m.: Presentation of Corinne Kirchner Research Award and Closing Comments